tone of the Family Court build

lack blazer. It was a cheap suit from Zara, one of the few things she

e world tilted sl

tions. Her body was running on fumes. She leaned her shoulder against the

f an engine

he curb. It was aggressive, taking up

k door

own ste

ol, not a wrinkle in sight. His hair was gelled back, his

eyes scanning the sidewal

ello. He didn't

s, his face twisted in

't you answer your

nt of her, towering over her. "Crysta waited all

her eyes. She l

s, his needs, his rare, crumbs of approval. Now, looking at him, she fe

ached into her tote bag a

said. Her voice was fla

lder, then back at her face. He l

witt told me you filed an emergency motion. How did you even afford the filing fee, l

peated, turning

otsteps heavy and angry behind her. He was convinced this was

the air smelled of stal

t at the head of the long mahogany tabl

, Dewitt stood up. He buttoned his jacket. He gave her a nod-a small, almost im

ulling out a chair for himsel

id the papers acros

m to the property. I've waived spousal support. I

nt. He scanned it, his ey

k for millions. He had prepared a speech about how

asking for

ke she was cheating at a g

e table. "You're trying to guilt-trip me? Playing the martyr

won't work. If you want me to coax y

mbered how those hands used to feel w

per. From this moment on, whether I l

s hung i

hest. Her eyes were dead. There was no f

you want to be a homeles

d. He slashed his signature across the bo

t B

as d

down. He stood up,

t the drama is

d up, confuse

a slow child. "Crysta's surgery is schedul

r arm. "Come on.

al end of their marriage changed nothing about he

e smoothed the lapel

up from her throat. It sou

own," s

frowned. "What

a step back, putting the table between them. "The person I was

"Stop playing hard to get. How much do you want? Five hundred

he looked at him with a mi

something you couldn't afford i

ned on

Don't you walk

rist. His grip w

ith a violence that startled him. She scrubbed the s

yes flashed with a sudden, terrifyi

d frozen, his hand sti

like that. It was like a st

through the heavy wooden doors

knees buckled slightly. She was weak, dizzy, and hun

ed a yel

spital," she t

ve blood. She was goin

le tear tracked through the cheap foundation on her ch

t watched the taxi d

strange, vibrating anxie

im, holding a tablet. "Boss? Should I ha

y. She'll realize she has nowhere else to go. Once

the words tasted li